Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide, are central molecules in eukaryotic growth, function, and immunity. While some corals have been associated with high extracellular superoxide concentrations, such as Porites species, we lack a clear understanding of superoxide production dynamics and purpose. Here, we combine extracellular superoxide concentration and decay rate measurements across life stages with bioinformatics to better constrain the controls and mechanisms underly